Call to residents to join Dog Watch

A ‘DOG Watch’ scheme has been launched in Carmarthenshire to tackle dog fouling.

Residents are being encouraged to help the council catch offenders by reporting any incidents they see.

Environmental enforcement officers can then follow up reported offences and target areas of greatest complaint.

Anyone caught failing to pick up after their dog can be issued with a fixed penalty notice of £75 or face prosecution in court and a maximum fine of £1,000.

The scheme was launched during National Poop Scoop Week and residents can easily report offences either by telephoning Carmarthenshire Direct or reporting via the website.

Executive Board Member for Environmental and Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “Local people often know who the offenders are, and can help tackle the problem of dog fouling in their area, by reporting them to the council.

“Most dog owners are responsible and pick up after their pets; however, there is a small minority who do not listen. One of the main reasons for this is because they think there isn’t a council officer watching; but if the message gets out that the general public can take direct action to report offences, dog owners are far more likely to behave responsibly.”

Cllr Jones has also written to town and community councils asking them to contact him with any dog fouling hotspots in their areas so that he can bring them to the attention of officers.

He attended two events with the council’s dog fouling awareness team during Poop Scoop Week at the Millennium Coastal Park in Llanelli and at Ferryside.

The aim was to encourage dog owners to help keep our public spaces clean and to promote Dog Watch.

There were also two £50 vouchers to be won at each event from Kidwelly-based Burns Pet Food. The lucky winners were Tonwen Morgan from Ferryside and Dilys Bevan from Llangunnor, Carmarthen.

Cllr Jones added: “We are determined to clean up Carmarthenshire and improve the local environment for both residents and visitors. Anyone who has any information in relation to dog fouling is urged to please get in touch and help us catch those responsible.”

To report dog fouling please call Carmarthenshire Direct on 01267 234567 or complete the online form at www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk

CAPTION: Parry Thomas from Swiss Valley and Sophie the dog are pictured at the Millennium Coastal Park with Cllr Jim Jones, council officers Tina Brice and Diane Phillips and Dorian Lee and Brian Mogford from Tidy Towns.

Picture: Jeff Connell.